Universal joint.



l. LEHMN, DEC-f n. smul a n.1. cnLossEn. zxzcurons,

. UNIVERSL JOINT- Arnlcmonzmin nl. 2a. uns. V 1,247,291 Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE'.

I'ADONYLEHMAN, or CLEVELAND,- oHIo; HERMAN s'rEnNfAND HARDY .1. scnnossim,

ExEcUTons or SAID IsaDon LEHMAN, DEC'EASED, AssIcNoRs To ARNOLD L. STEIN- FELD AND EDWIN STEINFELD, Born or NEW Yomi, N. Y.v

UNIVERSAL .IIN'L Specification of Letters Patent. y

Patented Nmheo, i917.

Application iled February 28, 1916. SerialNo. 80,792.

of which the followingr is a full, clear,- and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. l

This invention relates to improvements in universal joints, and it has for one of its objects to provide a novel' construction whereby a lubricant may be contained with. in the joint and thoroughly distributed to -v the operating parts thereof,'the construction including effective yet simple dust excluding means whereby the working' parts 'are protected against'dirt or grit, withoutthe `use of a casing which, as is well known, has

its disadvantages and undesirable features.

V A further object of the invention is to provide ja joint comprising, generally, a cross shaped element, thevbranches whereof constitute trunnions, and a pair of forks having apertures in their branches for the reception of the trunnions, one of `the u branches of one or lboth forks being separf ably connected to .the body portion ,oflthe fork, so that such branch may be'fcon'veniently removed and the elements ofthe joint disconnected.

My improved construction further provides a convenient4 means of introducing a..

lnbricant'into the joint.

Another object comprehendcd by my 1nvention. is the incorporation of a grease Well or chamber in -the hub or'body portion of the joint element 'which has sliding connection with one of the shaft sections, whereby such connection will be constantly `and thoroughly lubricated.

Further objects of my invention will become apparent as this description proceeds, and any and all of the obJects are attained in the construction illustrated in the accom panying drawing, and while I will proceed to describe the construction in detail, -I wish `to he understood as not limiting myself to the structural details thereof further than is romiired by the terms of the annexed claims and rendered necessary by the statel of the prior art,

in the dr ving Ligure 'l u' u perspective 'fch'with. the separable branch of one of ther forks removed from the body portion thereof, and the cap of such branch removed; Fig.` 2 is aA central sectionv through thejoint longitudinally of .the shaft sections which it connects; Fig. 3I is a section on the line 3.-.3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 represents a' modified form of cap andnbranch forthe forks.

Describing the invention by the use of 'reference characters, A denotes, generally,

one ofthe forks, and B the other, the former having rigid connection with -a shaft meni-` ber C, the tapered end whereof .is secured within the correspondingly shaped bore of theV fork Arby the nut c that is threaded onto theextension c2 of the shaft, a key c3 serving' to lock the shaft andfork vagainst relative angular lmovement, and the fork B having sliding connection with thesqu'ared end d of the shaftsection D. In all respects other than? their mode of connection and association with 4their respective shaft sections, the'forks A and B are identical, and

Ieach comprises a head or body portion 1 from one end of which projects laterally and. then beyond said end a branch 2 that terminates in a cylindrical boss 3 having an outward externally threaded extension 4 through which and the boss 3 there extends a bore 5, the inner face of the boss being incut transversely to form-a recess 6, having parallel side walls 7,y as .clearly illustrated in Fig. The opposite bra uch of eaeh fork is identical'to that. just described except as regards its connection with `the body portion or hub ofthe for-lc The branch now under consideration, and designated 2 is separably connected to the hub or hody'portionv of the fork in the following manner: Tliehuh is provided with a pair of ears 10 that are spaced apart and between which the :shank I of the branch 2i" `is adapted to lie-received,

the branch having abutments l1 that engage each with an edge ofone of sa1dears,where by the branch is held firmly against any buta movement radially of the hub or body `portion, .the shank and ears having alining apertures for the reception of a. bolt 12,

which extends through said` apertures and has a nut 13 applied to itsthreadedy end.

served hat an annular groove 'i the" outer surface* of such 'c ring' is' vflushY with the vadjgioent lsurface off fthefb'ody into. eetbare to 'substantially the outer end of said boss. An enlargement of the enlargement 16 engaging the sides 7 of the recess, thereby posltively lockl'fgf-the" bushing against turnin within the'bore. Y

` The powerftr'nsmittlngtfelement 20fft- 'oint 1s cross shaped, .andreach ofvlit's. ranches eonstitutes'a trunnion 21 that p'roinwthebore ,0f .One-.0f the bllshmee innerV portion -of fetich titunnionf-.or

ieets 1:5, c the portion y'occupying the zone [between the bssi 3- and. .the body .Portion 0f: the .element QQ-,and likewise the 'corresponding portion of thebore of thebnshing v15, Aare enlarged tq".for'm coperetng y I bushing and trunniomst 23.- 't Will be ob- 24 Ais forr'ne'd within the' fece of the' body portionofthe power transmitting element (to which body ortion the numeral v2Ois'npp'1ied), sind that suchv groove is' occupied by e* ring 25'thnt s pressed upon or vvotherwise'secured to the' inner end of4 the bushing, and that 'portion 20L Prior: toapplying the ring 25-`to -the bushing," a washer" 26 of 'peek-v ing' material, such `s ls'telt, l-e'ndn n metal washer`- Y27, which backs up? the .Washer 26, together with e compression spring 28,

are slipped overthe end. ofthe bushing,` .und said vspring is confined betweenV the metal Washer and the opposed `face of the enlargement 1-6 of the bushing. 'ofcourse-where.

the. sidesofwthe 'enlargement ,16. `nre sliced otf,t0 Ht the sidewalls of therecess 6, the spring. bears directlyy `upon the=-faeeof the boss. The spring.. 28` serves to press the washer-2 6 -firmlyngainst the flush surfaces othering 25.i1nd the-body p'ort/ionQO', and

ve'tfectlmlly seal the, only fgcrevice through which dust could-entente the .working surfaces of, the jont, or through which lfuhri cant-could be expelled,

i radially' inward through "en," aperture' 32am 'h'ebody' portion' '20 of the' power trans-v :hitting elementhas ixcnvity 35 from which in here4 v36- extends through each ofthe .tron-g 'niohs-2l,`and"eac h trul nien-has a= pluralityY of i ports .-'lwhjch eornlrnunicatively Aconnect 4vtheir outer.' working surfaces1-wthf theiri bores'.` Y lubricntjsuch as suitable fand Y eaYy into 'the bores an if '-20 throughwthes hores-1 "the remove "Loi-'n the' f ,e

'shoulders' between thev alining ports 43 and il in the erm nudi.

. reas cav1ty Y 'Y 5 of tneelement ,atherbosses-Lgf by s 3.0m therefrom.

.With thelcarty 'end bqresiothe element 20, and thehores of the bosses 3 filled with ".g'rasefrid the caps 30'also illedwith such lubricant, said oeps may be re laced and threadedizinward upon the mrtenslcms351;.1 1 nti'1 'A the endsyofltheir spring rings 31 eoperate With'th'e notchesfin the extensions 4; .to hold them against `f tceideritzil .,withdrewal., Now as the'. grease .isconsumech' th'egre'ase" withfinthe capsBO "may be forced int'oythe bbre'sfd 'entity of the element 2f), by turni ing up'the 'eap s,`-the caps ordinary grease cups. u

When a comparatively thin or freely flow-' ing lubricating oil is used, I prefer 'to 'em" ploy caps 40 :for closin the-'extensions '4 of the branches .of the orks. 'These oeps, one` of .which is shown in Fig. 4f, xlieed not be provided with the sprng'rings 31, as they are intended t-o be screwed i'rmly-egeinst," the washers-'4l of'pnckingmeterinl (suoli cork), the binding or 'wedging thus-created between thetl'ireeds 'and the resilient washers@ beingsuflicient to; loek'the-Cep1; gigeinst:un:w screwing-'j Thi's'nrren'gement permits en. :oil z 'l ofthe' nboye-nuture to be advantageously p'loyed, es tlie'ssme is eectually-.held within the joint, sind isl thorough-ly distrimiteMK throughoutthe same vbecause of.thef th ough communicationbetween all of the pa f. of thegjointandthe feet that the joint. rotntes continually while in operation: 4Thebrnnehshown in Fig. 4, end.l de.' nated `2*?,is made hollow, ns by Gering. same when cest, 'to provide n ,lnnl' chamber 42 that communicates, 'through i t ing ,15, respectiyelygwith the: working 'face of the trunnon 21. Lubricantgrn introducedvintothe vchamber 42 ,throng n an i opening-45, that is preferably threaded for the reception ot'- a plug 46, of anyA'epproyedfY` form, anordinnryeork being'prefernhlens l* upon the extensions it ca nfrendily screwed intofthe thre'eds of the opening, sind, whensaturatedwith the lubricant, will .ex'pnndfo'r swelll enughfto 11:5 firmly hold it'f ngn`insty accidenteldisplsiee-ir mentr' The inner end-of the'squmed sofilinetfof4v n' hubor body portion 1 of the' forkB,'open`s into .a lubricant well or chamber 45,-'t-he 120 chamber herein shown constitutingnrecess?y inthei inner end of th'ehub that is 'closed by'zt threaded plug 46, although 'it vwllbe understood that :my vnpprovedconstruction v muy 4be suhst'ituted'for this, whereby the de.- sircd ond is nttnuwh The "shfulk lof :L grease ofgthex'well or chamber,fnndby means ofsuch `cup, grease may `be Aintroduced into the well as required, and the o rking of the..1

Vend of the shaft section D Within the socket of thefork will cause such lubricant to be foreed between the cooperating faces and Walls of the shaft and fork.

flaring thus described my invention, what l. A universal joint comprising a cross shaped elena-nt the. branches whereof constitnte trunnions`v and a pair of forks having aperl lires in their branches for the reception of said lrunnions; the body portion of one fork havingr a pair of ears between which the shank of one of its branches is received, said branch having abutments that engage earh. an edge of one of saidears, and means for securing;r the shank between said-ears.

2. A universal joint comprising: a pon-'cr transmitting clement having.,r trunnions a pair of forks having' aperturesl in their branr'hes for the. recept-ion of said trunnions, nach branch having a hollow threaded eX- tensioli which ciunn'iun'ieates .with its aperture and having, a series of recesses. a rap for application to such extension, and means' carriedby the cap and cooperating with the recesses in 'the extension for holding the cap againsttalrning with respect thereto.

3. A universal joint comprising a power transmitting element having trunnions, a pair of forks having boresin thcirbranches for the reception of the end portions of said trunnions, a tubular member surrounding the remaining portion of each trunnion and projecting'I inward from the' inner face lof the adjacent branch to the opposed surface of the aforesaid element` awasher of pack,- ing material surrounding said meinber, and means interposed between said Washer and the aforesaid branch [or pressing said washer against the` power transmittingr element.

4. A universal joint comprising a power transmitting clement having trunnions, a.

pair of forks having apertures, afbnshing withineach aperture for the reception of one ot said trunnions, said bushing extend ing` ini 'ard from the branch to the body 'portionof the power transmittingelement, a washer of packing material si'lrroundingg' said bushing, and a spring for 4pressing said washer against the aforesaid body'portioi 5. A universal joint comprising apowor transmittine'` elementhaving tubular trun nions, a pair of forks having apertures iu their branches. a bushing within each aperture. and extending inward from the branch in proximity to the'v body portion of the aforesaid element, means for delivering a lubricant. tofthc bores of the trunnions` a washer of pzj. .\ing materia ll surrounding the bushing adjacent the aforesaid body portion` and a spring 'interposed between auch 'washcrf and the,- branrh for pressing` said Washeragainst the body portion.

6. 5L-universal joint comprising a cross shaped element the branches whereof con stitute trunnions, each triinnion having irlner and -outer portions of greater and lesser diameter respectively` a pair of forks havingapertures Ain their branches, bushings within said apertures for'the reception of the trunnions and having bores which correspond in .shape to said trunnions, the body portion of the power transmitting element having an annular groove which surrounds A its trunnion and into which the inner end of the bushing extends, a ring Within said groove and secured to the bushing, the outer surface of the ring being substantially flush l with the surface of the aforesaid-body portion` a washer of compressiblo material surrounding the bushing and bearingupon the,

which surrounds its trnnnion andainto;

which the inner end of the bushing extends, a ring within said groove and secured to the bushing, the outer surfacepf the ring being substantially flush with the surface of the aforesaid bodyl` portion, a closure surrounding the bushing;7 and means for pressing the closure. against the surface of the afore-f said ring and body portions.

A universal joint comprising a power transmitting element having trunnions, a forked member having a bore in each of its branches for the reception of the end portion of one of said trmnions', said branches being; separable whereby they may be removed from the trunnions, a tubular member surrounding the remaining portion of each trunnion and projecting inward from .the innerfac'e of the branch tothe op osed 1surface. of. the element, the inner end o said tubular member. having an abutment por- .tiou and the element having a recess for the reception of the abutment, a washer of'pack. ing material surrounding the tubular member, anda spring interposed between said washer and the branchY for pressing the washer against the power transmitting element` the, aforesaid abutment serving to pre- \'ent` the displacement of the washer when the branch is remoied from the trilnnion.

In testimony whereofu I hereunto aiiix my Asignature. i

SADOR LEHMAN. 

